The article discusses the investigation into the Eaton fire in Altadena, California, which resulted in 17 fatalities and over 9,000 destroyed structures. Evidence from Whisker Labs, a technology company monitoring electrical grid abnormalities with a sensor network, suggests that the fire may have been caused by faults in high-voltage power lines owned by Southern California Edison (SCE). The data recorded voltage drops coinciding with flashes observed near a transmission tower just before the fire.
Although Whisker Labs’ findings do not provide conclusive proof of the fire’s cause, they point towards potential electrical issues in the region’s transmission infrastructure. The timing of the reported faults aligns with witness accounts and footage from a nearby gas station, raising concerns about the reliability of SCE’s equipment, particularly given the extreme weather conditions at the time.
As the investigation unfolds, SCE has acknowledged a decrease in voltage and is reviewing the data provided by Whisker Labs. Liability for the fire could lead to significant financial repercussions for Edison, with claims potentially exceeding $10 billion. The incident underscores the increasing risks posed by aging electrical infrastructure in California amid more frequent severe weather events influenced by climate change.
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